market house, filled with attentive hearers. So it was on Monday likewise. Tues. 27.-We rode to Uffculm, about eight miles from Tiverton, and preached in the market place to a larger congregation than one would think the town could have afforded. Wednesday, 28. --It being the time of their yearly meeting at the school, abundance of gentlemen came to town. Yet I preached in the market house undisturbed; and afterward met the society in peace. Thur. 29.-There was a sermon preached at the old church, before the trustees of the school. At half an hour past twelve the morning service began but such insufferable noise and confusion I never saw before in a place of worship: no, not even in a Jewish synagogue The clergy set the example; laughing and talking during great part both of the prayers and sermon. A young gentlewoman, who was with us where we dined, hastened away to prepare for the ball. But before she was half dressed, she was struck, and came down in a flood of tears. Nevertheless, she broke through, and in a few hours danced away all her convictions. Toward the close of the sermon in the evening, a rabble of gentlemen's servants gathered together, and endeavoured to make a disturbance: but it was mere lost labour. Fri. 30.-I inquired into the particulars of the last fire here. It began on June 4, about six in the evening. Four engines were brought immediately; and water in abundance ran through the middle of the street notwithstanding, it seized four houses instantly, spread across the street, and ran on both sides, right against the wind, till it had burnt all the engines, and made all help impossible. When most of the people had given up all hopes, it stopped all on a sudden: on one side of the street, by blowing up the market house; on the other, none could tell how having first left about three hundred families without a place where to lay their heads. : I preached at six, on those words in the Morning lesson, “We desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for, as concerning this sect, we know every where it is spoken against." A drunken man made a little noise; but a clergyman present desired the town clerk to stop him; which he did immediately. Then the mob of footmen began, having procured a horn, and greatly increased their numbers. But a party of the townsmen undertook them, and scoured the streets of them in a few minutes. To revenge themselves, they laid hold on a poor chimney sweeper they met, though no Maccabee, (as the common people call us here,) carried him away in triumph, and (we heard) half murdered him, before he got out of their hands. Sat. 31.-We rode to Launceston. The mob gathered immediately, and attended us to the room. They made much noise while I was preaching, and threw all kind of things at the people as they came out; but no one was hurt. Sun. September 1.-At the desire of many I went at eight into the main street. A large congregation of serious people quickly gathered together. Soon after a mob of boys and gentlemen gathered on the other side of the street: they grew more and more noisy; till, finding I could not be heard there, I went to the room and quietly finished my discourse. I preached again as soon as we came out of church, and then hasted to Tresmere. Mr. T not being come, I read prayers myself, and found an uncommon blessing therein: I preached on Luke x, 23, 24, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see,” &c and great was our rejoicing in the Lord.. We were filled with consolation. We sung praises lustily, and with a good courage; till, (in a manner I never remember before,) : A solemn reverence check'd our songs, And We were well buffeted both with wind and rain, in riding from thence to JT's, where the congregation was waiting for me. we had another season of solemn joy in the Lord. Mon. 2.-We rode to Camelford. In the way I read Mr. Glanvill's "Relations of Witchcraft." I wish the facts had had a more judicious relater one who would not have given a fair pretence for denying the whole, by his awkward manner of accounting for some of the circumstances. Wed. 4.-We called in the afternoon on Mr. H, in Camborne parish. Sat. 7.-I rode in a stormy afternoon to St. Just. But the rain would not let me preach abroad, either that evening, or on Sunday morning. About noon I made shift to stand on the lee side of a house in Morva, and preach Christ to a listening multitude. I began at Newlyn about five. About the middle of the sermon there was a vehement shower of rain and hail: but the bulk of the congregation stood quite still, every man in his place. On Monday and Tuesday I preached in Ludgvan, Sithney, Crowan, and Illogan. Wednesday, 11.—At noon I preached in Redruth; and in the evening in Gwennap. It blew hard, and rained almost without ceasing: but the congregation stood as if it had been a fair summer's evening. Thur. 12.-We rode to Penryn. Here I light upon the works of that odd writer, William Dell. From his whole manner, one may learn, that he was not very patient of reproof or contradiction: so that it is no wonder there is generally so much error mixed with the great truths which he delivers. Fri. 13.-I preached at St. Mewan; Saturday, 14, at St. Lawrence, near Bodmin; a little, ugly, dirty village, eminent for nothing but a hospital for lepers, founded and endowed by Queen Anne. But I found God was there, even before I opened my mouth to a small, loving congregation, one of whom had been sensible of his acceptance with God for above six-and-fifty years. I preached at St. Clear in the afternoon, about two miles from Liskeard; and the next morning a mile nearer the town. Hence I went on to Plymouth Dock; where I preached in the evening, to a large congregation: and on Monday evening to a much larger, with great plainness of speech. Tues. 17.-Being greatly importuned to spend a few more days in Cornwall, I rode back to Launceston. After preaching there about noon; in the evening at St. Gennis; and the next morning at Cubert; we went on, and reached St. Ives in the afternoon, on Thursday, 19. Fri. 20.-I read, with great prejudice in their favour, some of Mr. Erskine's sermons; particularly those which I had heard much commended, entitled, "Law-death, Gospel-life." But how was I disappointed! I not only found many things odd and unscriptural, but some that were dangerously false; and the leaven of Antinomianism spread from end to end. On Saturday and Sunday I preached at St. Just, Morva, and Zennor. Monday, 23.-We had a general meeting of the stewards, and a solemn watch-night. After the service was over, I rode to Camborne; and in the evening, Tuesday, 24, reached St. Clear. The house would not contain one half of the people; so I stood in the porch, that all, both within and without, might hear.. Many from Liskeard were present; and a solemn awe was upon the whole assembly. Wed. 25.-After preaching about noon at Plymouth Dock, we went on to Mr. V-'s at C The next evening we reached Tiverton, where a large number of serious people were waiting for me. The sons of Belial were likewise gathered in great numbers, with a drummer at their head. When I began speaking, they began drumming and shouting notwithstanding which, I went through my sermon, to the no small mortification of Satan's servants, and the joy of the servants of God. I would have walked home without delay; but our brethren constrained me to step into a house. One of the merchants of the town quickly followed me, with a constable, and one or two servants, who took me between them, carried me through all the mob, and brought me safe to my own lodgings. Fri. 27.-In the evening I preached at Beercrocombe; and Saturday, 28, came to Bristol. Sun. 29.-I had much comfort among the children in Kingswood, finding several of them that really feared God. Tues. October 1.-This week I had an opportunity of speaking to most of the members of the society in Bristol, who are now as calm and well united together, as if James Wh-- had never been. Wed. 16.-We had a solemn watch-night at Kingswood. John How, one of our nearest neighbours, a strong, healthy man, went home soon after twelve; said, “ My feet are cold;" and spoke no more. He lay quietly down, and, without any struggle, was dead before one. Thur. 17.-I preached at Bath, and the next day at Salisbury. Sat. 19. -We rode leisurely on to Basingstoke; and came, about two hours after sunset, to Bramsel. Sun. 20.-Farmer N, who had begged me to come that way, upon the minister's offering me the use of his church, informing me, that his mind was changed, I rode over to Reading, preached at one and at five; and on Monday, 21, rode forward to London. Wed. 30.-After preaching at West-street chapel in the evening, I walked to Lambeth, to see Miss Sm-, who had for several days expressed an earnest desire to see either my brother or me. When I came, her sister told me, her senses were gone, and that she had not spoke for several hours. But she spoke as soon as I took her by the hand, and declared a hope full of immortality. I prayed with her, and praised God on her behalf. to God. An hour or two after, her spirit returned AN EXTRACT OF THE REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL FROM NOVEMBER 2, 1751, TO OCTOBER 28, 1754 JOURNAL.-No. IX. SATURDAY, November 2, 1751.-Mr. Arvin, according to my desire, informed Mr. M—, that I was willing to give him twenty pounds a year, for assisting me once a week. He refused it with the utmost indignation, and from that time spoke all manner of evil. Mon. 11.-I rode to Rochester, and the next day to Canterbury, where I preached morning and evening, in what was lately the French church. We had not any disturbance from first to last, the court of king's bench having broke the spirits of the rioters. Sat. 16.-I set out early in a clear, calm morning, and in the afternoon came to London. Tues. 19.-I began writing a letter to the Comparer of the Papists and Methodists. Heavy work, such as I should never choose; but sometimes it must be done. Well might the ancient say, "God made practical divinity necessary, the devil controversial." But it is necessary: we must "resist the devil," or he will not "flee from us." Sat. December 22.-Being informed that Mr. K-, for some years zealously attached to the Brethren, had now. burst his chain, I had a desire to hear, from his own mouth, how he was delivered. So a day or two after, I talked with him at large, and wrote down the substance of his account, that I might make no mistake. After a few days I called upon him; I read over to him what I had written, and desired him to tell me if I had misunderstood him in any thing. And this account alone may be abundantly sufficient to pull off the mask from those cruel and deceitful men. I do not speak this of all; but of them with whom he had to do. "1. I was," said he, "one of the first members of the society at the Foundery; and continued there till William Oxlee, about the latter end of the year 1740, persuaded me to join the Brethren. It was not long before I was admitted to most of their conferences; and my love for them increased more and more, till, in the year 1741, I went over to Herndyke. "2. Here I saw several things I did not approve, particularly the arbitrary power with which the heads of the Church governed, and the vast respect they showed to the rich, while the poor were little regarded; but I forgot all this when I returned to England, and gave myself up to their disposal. "3. I was soon after employed to collect money for repairing the chapel in Fetter-lane. The manner of the Brethren was, to write to each of those who were accustomed to hear the preaching, and desire them, if they found their hearts free, to send five or ten guineas. As many of these were not at all awakened, I thought this was quite wrong. So I told Mr. M; but he answered me short, 'That does not concern you.' "I saw several other things which I could not approve; and I spoke of them, but without effect. Some months after, Mr. Sp- told me, My Brother, we are going to settle an economy of children at Lamb's Inn; and it is the Saviour's will, that you should go there, and be the physician of the house.' I thought it strange, for I did not understand physic: however, I did not dare to reason; so I went. 5. The management here gave me a great shock. Without any regard to the rules laid down, R- U and his wife, the directors of the economy, behaved in the most haughty and tyrannical manner. Those who were set over the children had no gifts for the work, and some of them little care for their own souls. Several of the children were whipped without cause, and sometimes out of measure; by which ill management, one of mine was utterly ruined, and has had no fear of God ever since. As for me, I might give advice if I would; but none regarded it: and when I rose one night and covered the children, who had thrown the clothes off in their sleep, Mr. U sharply reproved me before the whole family; telling me I had done what I had no business to do; adding, that I was the most useless person in the whole house. I desired, that if so, I might return to London. With much difficulty they consented; and I made all haste back to my own house. “6. But I grew more and more uneasy at their management; which the Brethren perceiving, sent me to Yorkshire. When I had been there a few days, one of them told me, I was to go to Great Horton in the morning; it being made out to the Brethren, that I was to preach there. I was amazed, having never had one thought of preaching. Yet I did not dare to refuse; and from that time they employed me to preach, and to visit all the souls through that circuit. "7. At Holbeck we had an economy of young men. When I visited them, and examined them strictly, they declared to me so much of their Onanism, wh―ms, and other abominations, that I was utterly astonished. I was constrained to rebuke them sharply; for which, in a few days I received a severe letter from Mr. Sp-, telling me I was destroying God's dear children, instead of building them up; and that therefore I was neither to preach nor labour any more in Yorkshire. "8. In a little while I was sent for to London, to accompany Mrs. Stinto Germany; but the letter being delayed, although I rode post, she was gone before I came. Some time after, I was appointed a member of the Committee of Six, to whom an account was to be transmitted by all the labourers, of all the steps which they took, either at home or abroad. "One of our fundamental rules was, not to run in debt above thirty pounds; therefore, when Mr. Sp brought in a bill of more than three hundred, I was exceedingly startled, and moved that the particulars of it might be given in, and that all our accounts might be clearly and fairly stated. Wencel Neuser being present, (though not one of our members,) took me up for this very severely, telling me, they were servants of the Saviour, and would give no account to men. "9. I was more and more uneasy at their way of proceeding, till one day, Mr. Sl came to me, and asked me, if I was willing to go to Bedford, for six or eight days. I told him I was; and in a day or two set |